A large anticyclone covers New Zealand today. This anticyclone lies to the east of New Zealand on Tuesday casting a ridge of high pressure back over the North Island, northwesterlies build over the South Island with a cold front moving into Fiordland / Southland during the evening.

Cloudy areas about the upper North Island today, risk of a shower or two otherwise largely dry. Mostly sunny elsewhere however expect some morning cloud in the southwest. Mostly cloudy skies for the South Islands West Coast, rain or showers for Fiordland. Mostly sunny about Nelson through to Canterbury in the east, Southland and Otago has a mix of sun and cloud.

Mostly sunny for most North Island regions on Tuesday, once again some morning cloud is possible in the southwest. Also watch for the chance of some early low cloud or fog for inland areas. Cloudy for the West Coast of the South Island with a few showers, rain about Fiordland becomes heavy from afternoon. The odd spit possible for Southland then rain moves in during the evening possibly heavy.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz